Of Curses and Kisses Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Of Curses and Kisses

Author: Sandhya Menon

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Genre: Teen Fiction

Pages: 384

SYNOPSIS:

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon is a contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast set at an elite boarding school in the mountains–think Beauty and the Beast meets Gossip Girl! It’s out February 18th, 2020 and even has a *map* in the hardcover. Featuring an Indian princess and a misanthropic British aristocrat, it’s immersive, glamorous, and full of smoldering kisses! I hope you guys will order it wherever you get your books! Read on for the official description from the back of the book…

Will the princess save the beast?
For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending… Right?His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life. Sparkling and elegant, Jaya’s unlike anyone Grey has ever met. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

Buy links: Amazon | B&N | Indies

REVIEW:

* I received an arc of this book through a blog tour for review. I gave an honest review*

5 teacups! I absolutely adored this book! Of Curses and Kisses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that I felt was really unique, and went beyond the classic story we all know and love. It’s set at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, an elite boarding school in the mountains of Colorado. Princess Jaya Rao and her sister Isha find out that they have to attend the school after a centuries old feud targets her sister. When Jaya arrives, she finds out that her sworn enemy, Grey Emerson, from that very family hers is feuding with, also attends St. Rosetta’s. I enjoyed how the original story was woven in throughout the book, but this story is about much more. This story is about family and familial expectations, societal pressures, sisters, friendship, taking responsibility, and then there is the romance. The story was told through both Jaya and Grey’s points of view, and I enjoyed that aspect as I got to know the characters quite well. It helped me as a reader to understand where they each were coming from, and what their insecurities and feelings were. I felt that the secondary characters were really fleshed out and I got to know them well too. I really felt a part of their world. I just love Sandhya’s writing style and I was quickly drawn in. In fact, it was hard for me to put this book down! Who doesn’t love kissing and swoony boys and girl power?! Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book. It’s hitting shelves tomorrow, and you won’t want to miss it. Plus bonus, it has a map! Can’t wait to find out where the story takes us in book two. I’m ready!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi, Of Curses and Kisses, and many other novels that also feature lots of kissing, girl power, and Sandhya Menon Author Photo_Digital swoony boys. Her books have been included in several cool places, including the Today show, Teen Vogue, NPR, BuzzFeed, and Seventeen. A full-time dog servant and part-time writer, she makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado. Visit her online at SandhyaMenon.com, on Twitter @smenonbooks or on Instagram @sandhyamenonbooks.